U.S. Cremation vs. Burial Statistics: What Percentage of Funerals Are Cremations?

If you are wondering what percentage of funerals are cremations, the latest data tells us that cremation has now become the preferred method of final disposition in the United States, surpassing traditional burial by a huge margin. The data below shows how this trend has taken over the United States.

• Current U.S. Cremation Rate: Expected to be at roughly 60% – 62% nationwide.
• Current U.S. Burial Rate: Just around 34% – 35% and declining steadily.
• The Main Driver: Savings on cost compared to traditional burials & caskets(traditional burial averages $7,000-$10,000+ compared to direct cremation which is usually under $2,000-$4,000).
• Primary Data Source Citations: Cremation Association of North America(CANA) & National Funeral Directors Association(NFDA).

U.S. Cremation vs. Burial Rate Over Time Data Table

Below is going to be our table showing this growing trend over time, as you can see the national burial rate has been on a steady decline for quite some time. Roughly a 3% – 5% decrease since 2020! This is how we know the percentage of funerals being cremations has become the new normal for America.

In addition to this the trend is not going away any time soon. It continues to grow.

This table shows the statistics of what percentage of funerals are cremations in the USA.

Year	National Cremation Rate (%)	National Burial Rate (%)	Total U.S. Deaths (Approx.)
2020	56.0%	40.5%	3.38 Million
2022	59.3%	36.6%	3.27 Million
2024 (Projected)	60.5%	35.2%	3.30 Million
2026 (Projected)	62.0%	33.8%	3.32 Million
The point crossed over around 2015 when cremation officially surpassed traditional burial as the preferred choice in the United States

Data source: Compiled from trend reports and projections by CANA and the NFDA.

Numbers don’t lie so clearly there is a reason this is a growing trend in America. So the real question is “why?” why are Americans increasing this trend?

Why Are Americans Choosing Cremation?

Americans are choosing cremation because it is simply cheaper. As agents we have spoken with families that have taken out massive loans or started “Go Fund Me’s” just to pay for a ground burial. People do not want this financial burden so they opt for cremation as cremation is significantly cheaper than burial.

It simply comes down to money. Ask yourself if burial costs $10,000 compared to cremation which costs $4,000(saving you $6,000, debt, stress during the grieving process etc.) which would you choose? We have also listed other primary reasons below.

• Financial Disparity: Traditional burials involve caskets, embalming, vault fees, plot purchases. Cremation gets rid of these major overhead costs.
• Cultural & Religious Norms Have Shifted: Cremation acceptance has grown significantly across major religious institutions and demographics over the last twenty years.
• Geographic Mobility: Families are more spread out across the country today. Having the remains cremated helps with the flexibility for their memorial, scattering, or keeping their loved ones close by in their homes without having to get a central family plot in a hometown cemetery.

So as you can see those are the most notable reasons Americans are opting for cremation instead of burial. Clearly it is a convenient alternative for families struggling with the above issues.

Especially with inflation on the rise as well as the cost of living it only makes sense we are seeing this growing trend.

Breakdown for State by State

Lets take a look at the states with the highest cremation rates and states with the lowest cremation rates. You will see what percentage of funerals are cremations in the pacific northwest/New England vs the south. It’s clear when looking at these that the Northwest is adopting this trend faster than the South.

• Top States with the Highest Cremation Rates: Washington, Nevada, Oregon & Maine are the leaders of the nation for cremation, they exceed 75% – 80% cremation rates because they have lower traditional cemetery ties in addition to their cultural shifts.
• States with the Lowest Cremation Rates: Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee are much closer to traditional burials, though their cremation rates are still increasing every year.

Even in southern states with lower overall cremation rates such as our home state of TN we see a growing split. Our agency has encountered many TN residents looking for final expense plans to ensure a traditional burial instead of cremation. Our clients have expressed to us the religious importance of sticking to a burial for their loved ones instead of cremation.

Financial Truth: Cremation vs. Burial Costs

Now we are going to include a breakdown table of the costs associated with traditional burial, cremation with viewing and direct cremation(cheapest option).

Disposition Type	Average National Cost Range	Includes Vault/Casket?
Traditional Burial	$7,800-$10,500+	Yes (Required by most cemeteries)
Viewing + Cremation	$4,500 – $7,000	Varies (Cremation casket/rental)
Direct Cremation	$1,500 – $3,500	No (Alternative container only)

As you can see cremation is always the cheaper alternative which is why we are seeing the growing trend.

Final Expense Insurance Can Bridge the Gap

Final expense life insurance was designed for this very reason. It bridges the gap by providing a quick policy pay out to your named beneficiary so they have the money when they need it most. This is how our clients in TN are ensuring they can continue their religious family tradition of burials.

These types of policies can ensure that a full burial or cremation is covered. It provides a tax free death benefit so your loved ones have the money when they need it the most. The plans are month to month policies which means there are no contracts, you pay as you go.

With no strings attached and the assurance that the money will be there when your family needs it final expense is perfect. So if you are seeing this growing trend and are concerned about preserving your burial tradition or need the money for a cremation contact us today!

Funerals are going to continue to become more expensive but preserving your peace of mind is priceless. Securing a $10,000 or $20,000 policy with us will easily ensure your family can provide you with any kind of burial you want in that price range.